Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

If you ever played a sport like football or basketball, you have heard halftime talks (or tirades) from a coach during that brief break in the action. Whether the score was in your favor or you were deep in a hole, the message always seemed to contain some of the same principles; "don’t quit," "keep it up," "pretend the score is zero to zero," "keep on giving it 100%," "let’s win the second half," "don’t look back," "it’s a new half," ...my coaches always had messages of perseverance and effort, of striving to the end. Whether or not you can identify with this analogy, I’m sure you can appreciate the value of a break in the action and a new opportunity to succeed. 

Whether your first semester was spectacular, or a spectacular disaster, take some time at the beginning of this semester to reflect, evaluate and plan. 

• WHAT are the areas in which you want to grow? Personally? RA related? Academics? 
• WHAT things did you do well that you want to continue to do?
• WHAT are your goals for the second semester? More/better programming? Better relationships with your residents? Improving your communication? Your confrontation skills? Your relationship with your supervisor? 
• WHAT are the challenges you anticipate for the second semester? Time management? Balancing events such as graduation plans with your RA position? Specific residents who presented challenges last semester? 

Take some time to write down your goals and objectives for the second semester. Share these with someone, preferably your supervisor or another staff member who can keep you encouraged and accountable. 

Plan out your semester! Take some time to sit down somewhere that you won’t be distracted and look at your calendar and plan out your semester. You don’t have to nail all the details down now, but pencil in some ideas for programs and events, so that when February or March rolls around, all you have to do is refer to your “master plan” and you will have it made. 

Remember, proper prior program planning prevents poor programming performance. (-: 

I can guarantee you, if you take the time now to get organized and do some planning, you will be patting yourself on the back later. So RIGHT NOW, pick a planning time in the next few days, and get ready for a great semester! Dan Oltersdorf Contact